Everything You Need - Camps Bay Property Rentals
I've been living overseas for the last couple of years, but when the time had come for me to come back to South Africa, I decided to stay on for longer in South Africa and opted for a property rental in Camps Bay.
Bali Penthouse
For the first two weeks back in South Africa my family stayed with me at my newly acquired Bali Penthouse. It had more than what I needed in terms of a home, and everything needed for a holiday house to accommodate a big family, with a spacious open plan lounge and dining room that overlooked the most beautiful sea views I've seen in years.
The penthouse itself had four bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms and was fully equipped with everything I needed: There was a private wooden sun deck and swimming pool from which my family and I were able to relax during the hot summer days, with the Atlantic Ocean as backdrop.
Camps Bay
It's a little known fact that if you are visiting Cape Town, then Camps Bay is the place to be! With the Twelve Apostles Mountain range as a backdrop, the Atlantic Ocean with its white, sandy, palm lined beaches as your playground and the Lion's Head Mountain peak in its majestic glory to round off the masterpiece of a gorgeous destination; it's easy to understand why.
Camps Bay was named after an invalid sailor, Ernst Friedrich von Kamptz who, after many travels, decided to settle in this Utopia for some quality rest in 1778. Since then, it has become the holiday destination for those who desperately need some serenity in their lives. This was something that I needed as well, and similar to von Kamptz, I was looking for a place of tranquillity to enjoy a well deserved holiday.
The nice thing about Camps Bay is that it is extremely close to the Cape Town city centre, so I could jump in my rented car easily and enjoy a day simply walking around in one of the world's most captivating cities. There are many coffee shops; some of the finest restaurants and of course plenty of shopping opportunities.
Table Mountain
I checked the weather forecast in search of the perfect sunshine filled, cloudless day before heading up to Table Mountain. I went early to avoid standing in long queues for hours. The way up Table Mountain was exhilarating to say the least! The cable car was in recent years replaced with some newer technology; in other words, the cable car rotates while you go up giving you the pleasure of a greater view. The girl next to me didn't seem like she enjoyed it as much as me, but it rather distracts you from realising how high you are hanging in the air. After walking around for a bit I settled for an early lunch at the restaurant with a view unlike any other. Before heading down again I walked around for a couple of hours, using the "alone time" to simply breath in some fresh air and think about life in general while sitting on top of this Magnum Opus of nature.
La Med soon became one of my favourite spots in Camps Bay. It is one of the ocean-side venues and it has a laidback atmosphere, with very good cocktails and is the ideal spot for sundowners. It's a real beach bar, and after spending the day on the beach, I'd meet some friends there, while still dressed in my bikini and not having to worry that I was dressed improperly. The set up is casual and allowed me to meet a couple of really nice people there, some of which I have become quite good friends with.
On days when I just wanted to relax completely, I didn't even need to leave the comfort of my home. The penthouse had everything I needed and with such views, it was the perfectly adequate way to find that quietness that everybody might need. Yet I was still right there in the middle of one of the most "happening" places that had only the best to offer of South African entertainment, I even experienced a shark cave dive where I came face-to-face with the Great White. There's nothing better than finding a place that offers both serenity and adventure all at once, and this is exactly what Cape Town, and Camps Bay in particular meant to me.
Fullham Lodge - Camps Bay Accommodation
Camps Bay beach is one of the most popular beaches in Cape Town. With lush green mountains in the background and the wide open ocean before you, there is no doubt as to why this amazing beach draws swimmers, sun bathers and families looking for fun. A vibrant cosmopolitan beachfront, Camps Bay will keep you coming back for more.
The ever popular Camps Bay beach is situated just behind Lion's Head in Cape Town and the Twelve Apostles mountain range forms a backdrop. A eagerly sought after residential area, Camps Bay's coast is notable for its rough mountainous features. Not far from Clifton, Camps Bay beach is marked by beautiful sands, a row of palm trees reaching up to the sky and a lovely grassy picnic area. Emerging from the sands of the beach are massive boulders and impressive rock formations which are said to be millions of years old. This unique beauty of Camps Bay has attracted several film production companies which have located their advertising and photographic shoots here. Visitors to the beach will be in awe of the magnificent views of Lion's head as well as the Table Mountain's upper cable station. With Camps Bay being such a hotspot, its a good idea to get there early, especially if you are hoping to find some shade. Many visitors spend the entire day relaxing at Camps Bay, enjoying a picnic or a braai (barbecue). The ablutions are well maintained and a fantastic paddling pool will keep the children entertained for hours.
Nearby is the Promenade entertainment complex. Here you will find several dining spots, trendy stores, up market boutiques, banks, beauty salons and so forth. If you are looking for a South African paradise with magical scenery, white sandy beach, stunning blue Atlantic Ocean and world-class tourist conveniences, Cape Town's Camps Bay is your ideal vacation destination.
Camps Bay is the premier tourist destination in South Africa, and
is magnificently located on the Atlantic Ocean, at the foot of the Twelve Apostles
mountain range and adjacent to Table Mountain.
Camps Bay is a suburb of Cape Town, with a village feel, offering a convenient location only 15
minutes drive to the city center, 20 minutes from the V&A
Waterfront, 30 minutes from the airport, 40 minutes from the Cape
Winelands and 60 minutes from Cape Point.
You can safely walk to the Camps Bay beachfront during the day and at night.
Camps Bay is well appointed with more than 20 restaurants,
some internationally acclaimed and more than 20 accommodation
establishments offering typical South African hospitality and spectacular views. With a
multitude of activities
and attractions
on your doorstep, Camps Bay is an ideal location from which to explore Cape Town, South
Africa's "Mother City".
Couples from around the world are choosing Cape Town as their
fairytale wedding venue and Camps Bay is just the spot to make every
wedding dream come true. Camp Bay is a favourite wedding destination,
and many romantic couples have given each other their vows on Camps Bay
beach, in the Rotunda at the Bay Hotel, at a guest house in Camps Bay,
or even on top of Table Mountain looking down onto Camps Bay.
To
cater for each holidaymaker's preference and budget, we offer a range of accommodation types, including
guest houses / b&b and self
catering.
Planning on visiting Camps Bay in the next 5 days? View our 5
day availability schedule to see who has accommodation available for your stay.
Or search
by map to select a guest house based on its location in Camps Bay (i.e. close to the
mountain, ocean, restaurant strip, etc).
Alternatively, if you are looking for a specific guest house, simply click on the list below to be taken to an alphabetical listing of all accommodation members of Camps Bay Info.
Article SourceMy friend Brian – tall, skinny and covered with tattoos, is a waiter in one of the trendiest restaurants in Camps Bay. I’m waiting for him to get off work in an hour so we can go down to the beach and to fill the time, he is giving me the low-down on the mating habits of the Greater Spotted Camps Bay Trendoid.
“See the guy over there wearing the giant mirrored sunglasses?” he asks. I look over to where he is gesturing. “You’re gonna have to be more specific than that, mate” I reply, “they’re all wearing giant mirrored sunglasses.” He surreptitiously points to a guy inexplicably wearing a white suit on one of the hottest days of the year. “He’s some kind of big-shot architect. “The model he’s with is the new Guess girl,” he says, “and he just asked for one of our most expensive whiskeys, with a Coke mixer.” Money, it seems, can’t buy good taste.
But it can buy you an amazing house, a ridiculously flashy car and a white Chihuahua named Fritz, and most of Camps Bay’s residents have all three. This little cove of affluence is undeniably Cape Town’s playground for the rich and famous. Likened to St Tropez, the area is home to many of the city’s rich and famous, and attracts tourists and locals alike who either are, or aspire to, live the high life. Reached from Cape Town via Seapoint, on Victoria Road, over the mountain at Kloof Nek, or from the Hout Bay side along the Twelve Apostles, Camps Bay lies in a sheltered bay backed by Table Mountain.
The town’s history is not nearly as glamorous but stretches back almost to the arrival of Jan Van Riebeeck in the Cape, when it was granted in 1700 to John Lodewyk Wernich, who built his farm, Ravensteyn on the land, then known as Roodekrantz, because of the red tint of the soil. When Wernich passed away, his wife remarried, and her new husband’s name, Fredrik Ernst Von Kamptz, leaves little doubt as to the origins of the modern name – Camps Bay.
The area has a colourful history, having been fortified by the French in the late 18th century, during their battles with the English, and when the farm was destroyed by these battles, the government bought the land back, and established two small batteries.Much later on, in 1855, Captain Glendinning, then the only permanent resident in the area, attempted to sell 40 plots in Camps Bay, however, even his announcement that there was gold to be found in Camps Bay could not generate interest. If only Captain Glendinning had known the attention his piece of real estate would generate in modern days! Property in Camps Bay is now some of the most expensive and sought after in the Western Cape.
As far as modern Camps Bay is concerned, most of the activities in the area are dedicated to pure hedonism and decadence. Lazing on the beach, taking in a show at the Theatre on the Bay, or visiting one of the many restaurants, bars and coffee shops that line the main road alongside the beach are some of the most strenuous activities that locals and tourists are likely to encounter.
There are a few hiking trails in the area, and a popular activity for locals is to hike up the mountain at Kloof Nek and watch the moon rise over the mother city. If you’re like most though, you will want to take advantage of the pristine beaches, lined with lush green shaded lawns, maybe take a swim in the cool water, and watch the pleasure crafts loaded with revelers pass by en route to neighboring Clifton.
This, followed up with a cocktail in one of the trendy bars overlooking the beaches, while you split your attention between celebrity spotting, and watching the sun set over the water, is just about what every day in Camps Bay is like.
I love Camps Bay
Camps Bay has first dibs on that summer look. It's like this, if you're in Cape Town and you spend the whole season without spending a full day in Camps Bay, can you really say you've experienced summer?
Here are more reasons why we love the bay.
1. The beach
How rad is that beach? It can be intimidating sometimes because the hot bodies on display might induce panic in some of us whose bodies didn't get the memo. Otherwise, the white sands and the masses of people just make it all very party beach central
2. The pipe trail
This flat walking trail gets its name from the old water pipe it follows at the top of Camps Bay. You can take in spectacular views of the bay at a leisurely pace.
3. Theatre on the Bay
It's nice to know that you can spend the whole day being lazy at the beach. Then later that night show off your glowing tan at the theatre. It's a nice one too; perfect for big shows.
4. Dizzy's Jazz Café
There's something really casual but grownup about eating good food on a summer day while listening to jazz music. And the fact that you can actually do this in beachy Camps Bay makes it the perfect atmosphere.
5. Celeb spotting
If you like to see the rich and famous looking casual and relaxed, Camps Bay is one of the most reliable magnets. Check them out at Café Caprice where you go to see or to be seen.
6. Fishy heaven
You can't go to Camps bay and not eat some kind of seafood. It's rude. Especially as there are so many places to choose from. Some of the best include the Codfather, Yo Sushi, and Sunset Beach.
7. Sinnful ice cream
There's ice cream and then there's ice cream (users of this phrase will know which is fiercer). The appropriately named Sinnful has too many flavours to mention. It's the kind of ice cream that puts other contenders to bed.
8. Wine outside the Winelands
Wine tasting is such a Cape Town thing. It's normally done in a day trip to the Winelands. But if you'd like your wine tasting and still keep your beach time, check out Deli at the Bay.
9. Sundowners
Catch the perfect summer sunset here from the beach or from one of the many nice bars in the area. Popular bars on the strip include Baraza, Eclipse and Caprice.
10. Beach shopping
If you like your summer with a bit of shopping, Camps bay doesn't disappoint on that front either. Albeit it's shopping of the beach variety. Victoria Road is home to surf shops and street vendors selling anything from swimwear, towels to sarongs and napkin rings.
The Kove Restaurant in Camps Bay
The area was named the Sixth Municipal District of Cape Town in 1867. Originally formed as a community for the freed slaves, merchants, artisans, labourers and immigrants, District Six was a lively centre with good links to the city and the port. By the beginning of the twentieth century, however, the history of removals had begun. In the process, over a century of history, of community life, of solidarity amongst the poor and of achievement against great odds, was imperilled.
In 1970 it was razed to the ground by bulldozers after the forcible removal of its 60,000 inhabitants. The first to be moved out of District Six were black South Africans, who were removed under protest onto the desolate plains of the Cape Flats.
That year the government renamed the area Zonnebloem after in an effort to attract developers, to turn District Six into what would be a modern suburb. However protests successfully dissuaded developers from taking work in the area. Apart from the Oriental Plaza, a small gesture to Indian traders removed from the area, nothing was built.
District Six itself became probably the most powerful symbol of what apartheid did to families and communities in South Africa .
Today, disagreements over the land are still ongoing. The area however is a very nice place to walk around and the District Six Museum is very interesting.
Source: Explore South Africa
Quick Guide To Cape Town
By: Chic Retreats
Cape Town has emerged as a city for romantics, adventurers, explorers and families alike. The city now boasts a number of exquisite boutique hotels from where you can enjoy everything Cape Town has to offer.
Where is it?
Cape Town sits on the south west corner of South Africa, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. It has its own airport and visitors are never short of entertainment or excitement.
Where can I stay?
Cape Town’s growth into one of the most energetic cities in the world has been matched by the quality of the hotels. In particular, there has been a boom in boutique hotels – designed to catch the attention of the discerning traveller. These hotels provide well-designed and thought-out rooms and public areas and levels of service that anticipate guests’ every need. This new style of hotel includes Atlantic House, which occupies an enviable position in the trendy resort of Camps Bay, the Kensington Palace, a minimalist delight with just eight rooms, set right in the heart of the city, and The Bishops Court, which supplies spacious rooms, a pool and floodlit tennis court and fabulous views of the surrounding landscape.
What can I see?
Cape Town has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for designer shopping, water adventure, mountain treks, wine tasting tours or even safari trips, you can find it in Cape Town. With an enviable climate and the domineering presence of Table Mountain, Cape Town manages to combine stunning landscapes with urban chic, catering to a wide range of visitors. For those who lack the energy but want the view, take a cable car to the top of Table Mountain, where you get fantastic views of the city below and the ocean beyond. Robben Island is notorious for being the home of Nelson Mandela during his years of imprisonment and is now just half an hour away by boat and has been transformed into a living museum. If you want to damage your credit card, visit the V&A Waterfront, home to designer shops, cinemas, restaurants and craft markets surrounding a working harbour.
How do I get around?
Cape Town is fairly easy to drive around – cars drive on the left here – and car hire is reasonable. If you want to explore the Western Cape then it’s a good idea to hire a car so that you are in control of your day. Trains and buses link all the major cities in South Africa and there are long-haul bus services as well if you’re planning a few days somewhere different. You can also rent a bike to travel round the city or use local taxis.
Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com
Road Trips Through Cape Town’s Wine Tasting Routes
Cape Town and surrounds has a rich culture of wine tasting and
viticulture, boasting many wine farms, vineyards and wine routes which
make up a perfect trip from Cape Town where you have ample time to
drive and visit all the wine establishments and experience the tasting
opportunities within its estates and farms.
When Jan van Riebeek arrived in what is now known as the Cape in 1652,
he brought with him Dutch settlers, European culture, and consequently
– wine. Just under four hundred years later, the Cape has become one of
the world’s favourite destinations for wine production.
Discovering the Cape Wine Routes
There are many wine routes in the Cape to explore. Stellenbosch has
four main routes: the Bottlary Hills, Devon Valley, Helderberg and
Simonsberg routes. It is also one of the most popular routes to explore
by car, not only because of the scenery, but because all the wine farms
are in relatively close proximity, thus you are able to squeeze in more
travel in a day.
A Typical Trip
An example of a vineyards road trip could be started in Cape Town in
the suburb of Durbanville, home of the Durbanville Wine Valley and
vineyards. The accommodation is always of a high standard at any point
on the trip and Durbanville has hotels, guest houses, bed and
breakfasts and much more to offer.
Explore the 9 wine farms, taste their produce, eat a wonderful lunch at
one of the farms delectable restaurants and relax in the evening at the
theatre, shopping mall or just having an early night as your next day’s
trip kicks off with exploring Wellington.
Wellington is a quiet mountainside town, a figure of history and is
situated next to the Kromme River in the Boland area of the Western
Cape. Begin the day with the hour drive from Cape Town to Wellington.
After checking into a local bed and breakfast, hotel, guest house or
back packers, the Wellington Wine routes are yours to explore!
Wellington has over 20 wine farms to offer and a brandy route. Explore
wine farms, restaurants, beautiful scenery and outdoor activities for
two days and two nights. On day 4, the journey moves on to Worcester.
Worcester is situated in the Breede River Valley, a picturesque town
with historic buildings and sweeping parks with bright flora and fauna.
After checking into one of the town’s guest houses, bed and breakfasts
or camp sites, the tour of the Worcester wine route begins. Many famous
wine farms are situated in Worcester, offering wine tasting,
restaurants and shops. White water rafting is highly recommended as one
of the best things to do in the town. After spending the night, the
wine tour extends to the seaside whale spot, Hermanus, for two days of
wineries and fun activities.
Hermanus has many hotels and accommodation options such as guest
houses, bed and breakfasts and back packers. The town looks over the
Indian Ocean where Whales venture in spring to mate and calve and
provide the jolly atmosphere for the Hermanus Whale Festival. The
Hermanus wine farms are situated in the Hermanus “Wine Wander” known as
“Hemel en Aarde” (heaven and earth in Afrikaans). Hermanus offers many
other activities to wine farming so if you feel like whale spotting,
visiting a spa or nature reserve or even paintball, you can find all of
these activities in this lively seaside town. After taking days 5 and 6
to explore Hermanus, it is time to relocate the tour to Somerset West
for days 7 and 8.
Somerset West has many options in terms of accommodation: hotels, guest
houses, bed and breakfasts. After checking into your accommodation, it
is time to explore this lovely town. Somerset West is home to the
Helderberg Wine Route: an exploration of over 30 wine farms and
estates. The route boasts many famous cellars and farms: Vergelegen,
Alto, Eikendal and Rust en Vrede to name a few. The town also has a
shopping mall, Monkeytown, golf and a nature reserve. The trip stays in
Somerset West for two days giving plenty of time to explore the
activities and wine farms on offer.
On day 9 the trip departs for Cape Town to spend the last day and night
visiting wine farms in Constantia, an area which boast the famous and
oldest winery in South Africa: Groot Constantia. The area of Constantia
boasts 5 top class wine farms, including Buitenverwachting, Constantia
Uitsig and Klein Constantia. The area has the usual options for
accommodation set in a charming suburb of Cape Town.
Road trips through the Cape winelands really do offer a great getaway
and tour opportunity for all ages and cultures. The wines are first
class and international standard yet even if you are not a fan of
viticulture, the area has so much more to offer.
Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com
